[Enclosure]
Summary of Instrument of Unconditional Surrender
of Germany
P8/33/44
London, 7 December,
1944.
The Instrument of Unconditional Surrender of Germany, as recommended
by the European Advisory Commission to the Three Governments,* is a relatively short document of a
predominantly military character.
It is designed to be signed on the Allied side by representatives of
the Supreme Commands of the United Kingdom, the United States and
the Soviet Union, and on the German side by representatives of the
German Government and of the German High Command.
The Instrument consists essentially of three parts:
The first is the preamble which includes an unqualified
acknowledgement on the part of Germany of the complete defeat of the
German armed forces on land, at sea and in the air, and an
announcement by her of her unconditional surrender. The
Representatives of the Supreme Commands of the United Kingdom, the
United States of America and the Soviet Union, acting by authority
of their respective Governments and in the interests of the United
Nations, thereupon announce the terms of surrender.
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The second part comprises a series of articles which provide—
- (i)
- for the cessation of hostilities by Germany in all
theatres of war against the forces of the United
Nations;
- (ii)
- for the complete disarmament and disposal of the armed
forces of Germany or armed forces under German
control;
- (iii)
- for the standstill of all such forces in their positions
at the time of surrender, pending instructions from the
Allied Representatives;
- (iv)
- for the evacuation by the said forces of all territories
outside the frontiers of Germany as they existed on 31st
December, 1937, according to instructions to be given by the
Allied Representatives;
- (v)
- for the holding by the German authorities at the disposal
of the Allied Representatives, intact and in good condition,
of all war material, naval vessels, merchant shipping,
aircraft, transportation and communications facilities and
equipment, military, naval and air installations, and
factories designed to produce the foregoing or otherwise to
further the conduct of war;
- (vi)
- for the release of United Nation’s prisoners of war and of
United Nations’ and other nationals who are under restraint
for political reasons, and for their protection and
maintenance prior to their repatriation;
- (vii)
- for the stationing of forces and civil agencies in any or
all parts of Germany by the Allied Representatives as they
may determine.
The third part is a General Article setting forth the supreme
authority of the Three Powers with respect to Germany, including the
power completely to disarm and to demilitarise Germany and to take
such other steps as the Three Powers may deem requisite for future
peace and security. The General Article further states that the
Allied Representatives will present additional political,
administrative, economic, financial, military and other requirements
arising from the surrender of Germany, and will issue Proclamations,
Orders, etc., for the purpose of laying down such additional
requirements and of giving effect to the other provisions of the
Instrument of Surrender. The German authorities will carry out
unconditionally the requirements of the Allied Representatives, and
fully comply with such Proclamations, Orders, etc.
